Spring-switch.



F. G. HIBBARD.

SPRING SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9.1917.

1,251,024. Patented Dec. 25,1917.

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F. G, HIBBARD.

SPRING SWITCH. APPLICATION min :uns 9.1911.

1,251,024. Patented Dec.. 25,1917.

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[El lli 12K/196711307@ @a WCM/ QMLmf/wq UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

FRANK GARDINER HIBBARD, OF WAUWATOSA, WISCONSIN.

SPRING-SWITCH.

Application filed .T une 9, 1917.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK GARDINER HIB- BARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wauwatosa, in the county'of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented cer- `tain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Switches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to that class of spring switches commonly known as universal spring boxes7 and antikickers.

Its main objects are to provide switch mechanism which can be readily adjusted or set so that the switch tongue when thrown from either of its extreme positions past its central position will be carried to and yieldingly held in the other extreme position, or will be automatically returned to and yieldingly held in its initial position, right or lett, and which will yield from either extreme position to permit the passage of car wheels from the heel toward the point of the tongue and at the same time will prevent accidental displacement of the tongue; to avoid material variation in the tension or compression of the spring in the operation of the switch whether it be set to shift the tongue from one extreme position to the other orto return it to its initial position; and generally to simplify and improve the construction and operation of switches of this class.

It consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing like characters designate the same parts in the several figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a switch and of a switch box attached thereto and containing mechanism embodying the invention, the cover of the box being removed and the mechanism set or adjusted for throwing the switch tongue from one extreme position to the other; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section substantially parallel with the switch on the line 3-3, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1, showing the switch mechanism set or adjusted for left hand throw of the switch tongue; and Fig. 5 is a like or similar view showing the switch mechanism set or adjust- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

Serial No. 173,722.

ed for right hand throw of the switch tongue.

In both Figs. 4 and 5 the switch tongue is shown deflected to the extreme limit from its normal position.` Y

The terms right and left as used herein refer to the switch as viewed toward the point of the tongue.

In the drawing, a portion of a right hand switch of common construction, comprising a tread 1, Va guard 2 and an intermediate tongue 3, is shown.

rI`he switch mechanism constituting the present invention comprises a substantially quadrangular box or case 4, which may be attached to either side of the switch. In the present case it is shown as fastened to the guard side byA bolts 5. The box 4 is formed as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, on one of its sides disposed transversely to the switch, f

with inwardly projecting ears 6 between which a lever 7 is ulcrumed between its ends on a pin 8. On the opposite side, the box is formed with inwardly projecting ledges or flanges 9, which are formed with vertical pin holes 10, 11 and 12.

A toggle comprising two members, a rocker 13 and a' link 14, and disposed within the box 4 approximately parallel with the switch, is adjustably connected by a rod 15 and a lug 16 on the under side of the switch tongue 3, as shown in Fig. 2. The rod 15, which passes through an opening in the side of the box 4 next to the switch, is pivotally connected with the toggle link 14 between its ends by a pin 17. The link 14 is pivotally connected at one end with one arm of the lever 7 by a pin 18 and at the other end with the rocker 13 by a pin 19. The rocker 13, which is preferably of substantially triangular shape as shown, is

formed on the side opposite the pivot pin 19 with three semi-cylindrical` notches or pin seats 20, 21 and 22, spaced equidistant from one another transversely to the length of the toggle and to correspond with the spacing of the pin holes 10, 11 and 12. These'notches or pin seats, forming pivot bearings, `are adapted to engage with and turn on pivot pins 23 and 24, inserted in the holes 10, 11 and 12, according to the adjustment or setting of the mechanism, as hereinafter explained. The pin 23, with which the middle notch or seat 21 of the rocker cooperates, is inserted and remains in the hole 11 for all adjustments of the mechanism. The pin 24, lshown in Figs. 4 and 5, is inserted in one or the other of the holes 10 and 12 for right or left hand throw of the switch tongue 8 when it is desired to automatically return the tongue to its initial position after deiection by passing car wheels either to the right orto the left, but it is removed from both holes, as shown in Fig. 1, when it is desired to shift the tongue from one eXtreme position to the other and yieldingly retain it in its shifted position, as in the operation of a .Socalled antikicken rlhe end of the lever 7 opposite the pivot pin 18 is connected by a pin 25 with an eyebolt or rod 26, which is guided at its other end as shown in Fig. 5, in a socket in the opposite wall of the boX 4, parallel with the side of the boX opposite the switch. A helical spring 27, surrounding the rod 26 and held under compression between a nut 28 threaded on the rod and the opposite wall of the box 4, yieldingly forces the pivot connection between the lever 7 and toggle link 14 toward the pivot pin 28, thereby tending to bend the toggle and shift the switchrod 15 lengthwise. The nut 28, forming an adjustable seat or shoulder for the spring 27, is secured in adjusted .position by a locknut 29, and serves to vary the tension of the spring as may be desired.

The box 4 is provided as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with a removable cover 30.

lhen the device is set or adjusted as shown in Fig. 1, to operate as an antikicker, the pivot bolt 24 beingentirely removed and the switch tongue 3 is thrown by passing car wheels or by a. switch hook from either of its extremepositions past a central position, the pivot pin 19 of the toggle is carried beyond a straight line passing through the centers of the pivot pins 18 and 23 and the spring 27 which has been compressed by the initial movement of the switch tongue reacts through the lever 7, toggle 13-14 and rod 15, to complete the throw of theV tongue in the same direction and to yieldingly hold it at the eXtreme limit of its movement opposite .its initial position. For example, when the tongue is forced by a ycar wheel, switch hook or other means from the position in which it is-shown in Fig. 1, against the tread 1 of the switch, past its central position, it will be carried completely over to and yieldingly held against the guard 2.9

Vhen the pin 24 is inserted in the hole 12, as shown inFig. 4, for left hand throw of the switch tongue, and the tongue is deiiected by a passing car wheel or otherwise to the left, as shown, the toggle rocker 13 will rst turn around its middle seat 21 on the pin 28, till the seat 22 is brought into engagement with `the pin 24, whereupon the rocker will be moved away from the pin 23 and will bear solely on the pin 24, thereby shifting the knuckle angle of the toggle beforey the pivotpin 19-c`rosses a straight line passing through the pins 18 and 23, and but slightly augmenting the tension or compression of the spring 27 over what it vwould be if the pin 24 were removed-.f As soon as the switch tongue is released it will be instantly returned t0 its initial position against the tread 1.by\the .reaction ofthe spring 27, and yieldingly held linl that-.position.

Vhen the pin 24 is inserted in the hole 10, as shown in Fig. 5, for right hand throw of the switch .tongue 2, and thetongne is delected by a passingcar wheel or otherwise to the right', asshown, the toggle rocker 13 will iirstturn around lits middleseat l21 on the pin 23 as before, till the seat v22 is f brought into engagement withfthe pin124, whereupon the. rocker will be movedraway from the pin 23 and will bearsolely on the pin 24, thereby shiftingthe knuckle angle of the togglebefore thepivot pin..19 in its movement toward the switch crosses a straight line. passing through .the pins` 18 and 23. As soon as the switchtongue. is released it will be returned to its initial posi vtion, against the guard, and yieldingly held in that position.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the switclr tongue 2 is shown as shifted to agreater extent from-its normal positionthan it ordinarily would be by the flanges of passing car wheels. The holeslt), 11 and ll2 in the flanges 9 of the springv,box,.and the pin seats 20, 21 and 22 inthetoggle rocker 13, maybe sodisposed thatfwhenvthe:device .isi setuor adjusted as shown in Fig..4 or .5, ltheiseat 20er 22 .will be very close. to or.V 1in actual ycontact with the pin 24 when the switch tongue is inlits normal position,fand.the rocker will begin. to turn on the pin 24 as soon as or nearly as soon as the tongue begins to move fromits initial. position.

Various changesin the :details: ofconstruction and arrangement of parts Imaybe made without.y materially affecting, -theoperation of .the .mechanism..andtwithout departure from the principle of the invention-as defined in the following claims. A

I claim:

1. Ina spring switch the combination with a switchrod, of a lever `having a fulcrum between its ends, a compression spring disposed transversely to theswitchzrod between a fixed/abutment and one: arm of said lever, and a'toggle. connected with the switch rod and comprising.; two-pivotally connected members, one of which is pivotally connected with the other armof said lever andthe other has transversely spaced pivot bearings.

2. In a spring .switch the combination with a switch rod, of a toggle connected with the switch rod andv comprising. .pivotally connected members, one of which has transversely spaced pivot bearings, while the other has a yielding pivot connection tending to bend the toggle.

3. In a spring switch the combination with a switch rod, of a toggle connected with said rod and comprising two pivotally connected members one of which has three transversely spaced pivot bearings, and the other has a yielding pivot connection tending to bend the toggle.

t. In a spring switch the combination with a switch rod, of a box having adjacent to one side thereof a pivot pin and two pin holes on opposite sides of said pin, a. removable pivot pin for either of said holes, and a toggle connected with the switch rod and comprising two members, one of which has three pin seats spaced to correspond with the two pin holes and the pin between them and adapted to rock on the first pin and on the other pin inserted in either of said holes, the other member having a yielding pivot connection on the opposite side of the box tending to force it toward said pins and to bend the toggle lengthwise of the switch rod.

5. In a spring switch the combination of a boxhaving adjacent to` one side a pivot pin and two pin holes on opposite sides of said pin; a lever fulcrumed between its ends adjacent to the other side of the box; a removable pivot pin for either of said holes; a toggle consisting of a rocker having three pin seats spaced to correspond and engage with the rst pin and with the other pin inserted in either of said holes, and a link connecting the rocker with one arm of said lever; al switch rod connected with the toggle and passing transversely thereto through one side of the box; a rod pivotally connectedy at one end with the other arm of said lever transversely thereto and guided at the other end in the box, and a helical compression spring surrounding said rod and bearing at one end against a shoulder thereon and at the other end against the box.

6. In a spring switch the combination with a switch rod, of a lever having a iixed :Eul-4 crum between its ends, a compression spring disposed transversely to the switch rod between a lixed abutment and one arm of said lever, and a toggle connected with the switch rod and comprising two pivotally connected members, one of which is pivotally connected with the other arm of said lever, and the 'other has shiftable pivot connections with a fixed support.

In witness whereof I hereto affix my signature.

FRANK GARDINER HIBBARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained tor ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

